We’re so sorry to hear about the passing of LizBeth Lucca, most known in our community for founding and operating Repertory Opera Company for many years and helping a lot of local singers find the joy of singing opera. She was passionate, she was a talented singer and stage director, she was fun (and sometimes silly, which was wonderful), and she gave her all for music. LizBeth was a longtime Lister and beloved by so many people.
The following obituary has been shared by one of her close friends, who has graciously given permission to reprint it here. Gathered photos show LizBeth in the earlier years and more recently, on stage and with cast members and performance partners. As you can see, she touched a lot of lives. There is much more on Facebook – just search for her. There and almost everywhere, there was only one LizBeth Lucca.
On December 26, 2025, Elizabeth D. Fraser, professionally known as LizBeth Abeyta Lucca, passed away at Pomona Valley Hospital in Pomona, CA at approximately 9:00 am from heart failure, due to various medical conditions.
Ms. Lucca was born June 12, 1960 and grew up in Reston, Virginia, where she graduated from Herndon High School in 1977. She attended Virginia Tech and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1981, where she was the first woman to do both ROTC and to be a member of a sorority. She joined the Air Force and was stationed as an officer in Ft. Walton Beach, FL for six years, remaining in the Reserve for several years before moving to California.
Life changed when LizBeth developed an interest in opera! She studied Opera Performance at CSULB and in August, 2001 became the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Repertory Opera Company (ROC), partnering with the pianist, Brian Farrell. ROC produced numerous full-length operas and gala concerts, ranging from fully-staged productions to the weekly Music At Noon concerts, featuring singers and instrumentalists in intimate settings. As a vocal artist herself, she sang over 25 roles, including Princess Eboli (once understudying Delora Zajick), Amneris (at the John Anson Ford Theater), Azucena, Santuzza, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Marcelina, Zita, and Lady Macbeth. Her theatrical roles included Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, the Old Lady in Candide, Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons, Lucy in Threepenny Opera, Ayah in The Secret Garden, and Dorine in Tartuffe. Reviewers described her as “a powerful and intriguing vocal presence as Amneris, singing with deep passion and believable jealousy”, “solidly dramatic”, “outstanding in her role”, and “her frisky demeanor and melodious voice brought thunderous applause”. Solo oratorio work included Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and various Bach cantatas, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Ms. Lucca leaves us a rich legacy of opera direction and performance. She mentored many young, upcoming singers in their first stage experiences, pairing them with well-established vocal artists. Her influence and artistic reach went as far as the highest level of opera and symphonic performance organizations and venues in Southern California, with countless professionals learning from her, performing in her productions and honored to sing with her.
LizBeth Lucca brought high quality classical music to the Pomona Valley, inspiring not just fellow artists, but also other conductors and opera company founders to step up and expand the community. Her loss will be deeply felt.
She is survived by a brother, Robert Fraser, living in Korea.
If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please click here. Funds raised will be used to cover expenses from the end of her life, as well as a memorial tribute to be held in her honor on February 15, 2026 at the First Christian Church of Pomona, 1751 N. Park Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768. The tribute starts at 4:00 pm, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall, where there will be food and drink, singing and sharing of memories.
Now is our time to give back in LizBeth’s honor.
To LiveStream the Memorial Service…
…log in to FaceBook and go to the page for First Christian Church Pomona
There will be a Facebook Live event there, starting at 3:50 pm PST. It will be running a short slideshow of photos from LizBeth’s life. When the slideshow finishes, it will show the sanctuary of the church filling up for the service.
Please feel free to share your favorite memories of LizBeth and ROC here, or add to the growing tributes on Facebook.